IONIA — Ionia Department of Public Safety Officer Brian Vos is the city of Ionia's new full-time code enforcement officer.

Vos will retain his public safety officer classification and medical first responder certification. However, he will work 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, performing fire inspections and inspections of rental property, and working on enforcing other areas of city code violations, said IDPS Deputy Dir. John Odette.

Code enforcement covers a multitude of issues including upkeep of lawn, weeds, garbage, non-functioning vehicles parked on property, the dilapidated condition of a building – anything considered "blight" that is not enclosed and in full view; interior safety issues with water, sewer, electrical, smoke alarms and non-functional appliances; as well as snow and ice removal on city sidewalks during the winter.

Vos can issue letters to residents and/or the owners asking for compliance with the city codes, giving them a 10-day warning, and he can ticket the offenders.

"Ordinance violations could be criminal offenses, which (Vos) can handle," Odette said. "Several agencies have a code enforcement officer rather than a civilian."

City codes are regulations or laws passed by the municipality, often to provide for public health, safety or peace, or city improvements.

"This is an innovative way to control costs (of having a code enforcement officer)," said Ionia Mayor Dan Balice at the January city council meeting. "What good are codes if you don't have code enforcement?"